PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Maria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maria's entrance music is Kronos - Bloodtower. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Maria
vs
Burns

193 cm
33
224 lbs
32 - 8 - 0

190 cm
33
270 lbs
23 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GRAND Royal Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joaquim Maria!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carl Burns!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maria gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Burns tries to land a body kick
and Maria finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
We've been told by Maria's head coaches at Men of Mayhem (1 TPL, 6 DBL, 5 SGL)(55 member cap) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burns is defended easily by Maria.
Burns tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maria defends well and Burns ends up having to push Maria into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Burns drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maria gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Joaquim Maria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Burns.
Maria lands a nice uppercut.
We've been informed that Burns has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Maria tries a body shot but Burns blocks it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maria throws a punch but it's blocked by Burns.
Maria lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Burns backwards.
Maria gets through Burns's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Maria misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burns has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Maria is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burns pulls guard successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maria wants to get up but he can't break Burns's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Maria forces his way into half guard.
Burns is looking to improve his position.

Maria escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns swings for the body but Maria moves out of range.
Burns throws a head kick but Maria moves out of range.
Burns tries to land a body kick
enabling Maria to counter with a crisp jab.
Maria chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burns can pounce on him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Burns.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Burns misses with a low kick.
Burns wants to slow Maria down by chopping away at his legs.
Maria tries a head kick but it misses.
Burns slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maria tries a head kick but it misses.
Burns is looking to land body kicks.
Maria takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Burns buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Burns throws a nice inside leg kick.
Burns scores with a nice body kick.
Burns wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Burns jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maria tries to clinch

and Burns counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maria's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burns postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maria works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burns throwing strikes but missing.
Burns postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Burns throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Burns throwing strikes but missing.
Burns has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maria is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Burns dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maria moves away from the strike by Burns.
Burns misses with a kick to the body
and Maria counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Burns is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Maria blocks a head kick by Burns.
Burns throws a low kick but it's checked well by Maria.
Maria tries to clinch up

and Burns counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burns throws an elbow that misses. Maria uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burns's guard. Nice move by Maria!
Maria showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria wants to stand but Burns is controlling his posture from full guard.
Burns wants to sweep here but Maria controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Burns looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Burns looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joaquim Maria.
Burns lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maria doesn't manage to clinch there - Burns circles away.
Burns stuns Maria with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Burns shoots in looking for a takedown. Maria tries to sprawl out of it but Burns keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maria manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Burns shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maria is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maria preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Burns not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maria tries to roll over but Burns keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Burns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Maria's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Burns pushes Maria away with a front kick.
Burns feints and then cracks Maria's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maria down.
Carl Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maria avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Burns throws a sloppy head kick and Maria moves out of range easily.
Burns throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Burns ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maria moves away.
Carl Burns seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A lazy body kick from Burns
and Maria counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Burns fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Maria.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Burns - that will leave a mark!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Burns throws a low kick, looking for Maria's leg but Maria calmly moves out of range.
Burns scores with a body shot.
Maria moves out of range as Burns throws a body kick.
A leg kick checked by Maria.
Burns scores with a hook to the body. Maria takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Maria stuffs the takedown attempt from Burns. Burns gets slowly back to his feet.
Joaquim Maria is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burns looks to land a right hand but Maria moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maria tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burns paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maria throws a sloppy head kick

so Burns counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maria wants to sweep here but Burns controlling him for the moment.
Burns throwing strikes from guard but Maria blocks nicely.
Burns throws a strike but Maria rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Burns working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maria doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maria manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burns is looking for a triangle here but Maria uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Maria decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maria wants to clinch.
Burns misses with a left hand
and Maria counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A slapping leg kick lands for Burns.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Burns decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burns throws a strike but Maria avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Burns really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burns connects with a body shot.
A big right from Maria misses.
Burns throws out a loose jab but Maria uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maria tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Burns counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burns throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maria works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maria lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Burns!
Burns is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns can't escape the position.
Burns tries to lock up and control but Maria gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Burns slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Burns is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns is still trying to improve position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joaquim Maria wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Burns. Maria shrugs it off though.
Burns is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maria.
Burns throws the kick towards the body but Maria avoids it.
Maria checks the leg kick.
Burns throws a jab when Maria was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maria moves in looking to clinch but Burns pushes him off.
Maria takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Burns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maria manages to avoid it.
Burns lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Maria avoids a kick to the body.
Burns throws a poor cross that misses
and Maria counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Burns misses with a body shot.
Burns misses with a wild body shot.

Burns drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maria managing to control the position.
Maria utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Burns throwing strikes from guard but Maria blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burns throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Burns dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Burns shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maria defends it nicely.
Good leg kick by Maria there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Burns wants to land a leg kick but Maria is out of range.

Burns closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Burns lands in his opponent's guard.
Maria has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Burns throws a big right hand that misses.
Burns throwing strikes but missing.
Burns is in close to Maria's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns is looking to work some ground and pound but Maria has wrist control.
Burns postures up in Maria's guard and throws a big left but Maria blocks it.
Maria trying to control the position here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Burns postures up and lands a big shot to Maria's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns postures up in Maria's guard and throws a big left but Maria blocks it.
Burns throws a big elbow that misses.
Maria utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maria avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maria working a defensive guard here.
Burns works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Joaquim Maria has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burns missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maria tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Burns has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Burns is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Maria can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Burns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Burns winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 45:50
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Burns!
Carl Burns is the new heavyweight champion!
Carl Burns gave a mention to 10th Degree Fightwear in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).